Process of reclamation of crank case or used oils



March-Z9, 1932- J. IRELAND 1,851,432

' PROCESS OF RECLAMATION OF CRANK CASE OR USED OILS Filed Aug. 25. 19502 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 INVENTOR LEWIS JJRELAND- ATTO RN EY March 29, 1932i,851,432

PROCESS OF RECLAMATION OF CRANK CASE OR USED OILS I L J. IRELAND EiledAug. 25, 1950 2 Sheets$heet 2 LEWIS JJRELZTQIT 0 Q ATTO RN EY Patented2%,, 1 12332 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEWIS J. IREEAND, OF FORTWORTH, TEXAS v PROCESS OF REGLAMATION F CRANK CASE OB USED OILSApplication filed August 25, 1930. Serial- No. 477,582.

This invention relates to the process of reclamation or reconditioningused petroleum I ineifective for further use as a lubricant.

Rapid deterioration of lubricating oils, especially those used ininternal combustion motors, is a result either from leaky piston rings,contamination with dirt and other abrasive foreign substances. Moreover,in

' many cases faulty fractionation will result in rapid dilution in thecase of the cheaper grades of oil, due to the presence of'highlyvolatile constituents. This condition can be overcome by the use of thepresent invention by the removal of such diluent portions of .with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus' by which the severalsteps of the method are carried out, showing "a tank and concentricarrangement of j ackets, and

v Figure 2 is a vertical section of a modified form of tank with thesteam jacket omitted.

Continuing with a more detailed explanation of the drawings, 1designates a cylindrical tank constructed so as to define asubstantially funnel shaped lower portion. A.

steam heating jacket 2 and a fuel heating jacket 3 surround the tank 1in concentric relationship.

In continuing further, it is pointed out that two forms of apparatus areillustrated. While there is but slight difference in the constructionand operation of the two modified forms of apparatus, the typeillustrated in Figure 2 is preferred, it being understood that thefilter, which will be described in detail presently, is substantiallythe same on Figure 2 as is illustrated in Figure 1.

Certain acid treated clays are mixed with the diluted or contaminatedoils placed in the tank 1 and which have the efl'ect of absorbing theimpurities, such as dirt, carbon and the like from the oil. The mixture,that is the clay and oil is injected into the tank through the filleropening 4, which has a suitable cover or cap as shown in the drawings. Asuitable pressure gauge 5 is provided for the tank and a discharge pipe6 is disposed at the small end of the funnel shaped lower portion of thetank 1.

It will be noted that the steam heating jacket 2 is likewise funnelshaped so as to embrace the discharge pipe 6 at its lower end. Alsosurrounding the discharge pipe 6 imniediately below the lower end of thejacket 2 is a burner 7 whereby heat may be applied to the exterior ofthe said jacket 2 and within the jacket 3 and will emerge through theflue 8 communicating with the top of the exterior jacket 3, as shown inFigure 1 especially.

In the construction shown in Figure 1 lateral pipes 9 are projectedthrough the'tank 1 so as toeifect thorough circulation of heatthroughout the contents of the tank. It has been stated that theannular. space between the exterior jacket 3 and the intermediate jacket 2 is heated through the medium of the gas or oil burner 7surrounding the discharge pipe 6; In order to supply heat into.

the annular area between the jacket 2 and the outer walls of the tank 1,the pipe 10 is provided which is connected to the steam supply tank 11and introduces steam into the said area and thereby uniformly heatstheexte- 50 Obviously,

pipes 9, certain of which, as apparent in Figure 1, communicate with thearea between the jacket 3 and the Jacket 4, while others communicatewith the area between the intermediate jacket 2. Thus, the heat risesfrom the burner 7 as well as the heat of the steam injected through thepipe 10, as stated.

Due to the circulation of heat from the two sources explained, a toppingoperation is car- 1'0 ried out, that is to say, the li htervolatileconstituents will be converted into vapors Which ascend through the pipe12, to enter a condenser 13 wherein they will be reduced again to liquidform. Further mention of 15 i the evaporating steps will be madepresently.

In order to supply the burner? with fuel, a pipe 14 is provided throughwhich gas or fuel oil may be supplied to theburner, whose heat, asstated preyiously,wi1l rise about the exterior of the jacket 2 andcirculate through pressure through a pipe 17, communicating with thedischarge pipe 6, into the tank 1, thorough agitation of its contentswill be effected, thereby minimizing entrainment of gases in the oil,which would be the case should mechanical agitation be employed.

To aid in the topping or vaporizing step of the process, the oil isheated to a very high degree and maintained s0 throughout the operation.

As apparent in Figure 1, the pipe 6 discharges into an air filter 18,which is provided with a pressure gauge 19. The temperature within thisfilter is maintained at a high degree of heat by the exhaust of steam.from the steam jacket 3,

which passes through the pipe 20, which communicates with the steamacket near the top of the apparatus and enters the filter 18, in whichit is convoluted before its passage therefrom. when the valve 16 in thepipe 6 is actuated to allow the contents of the tank 1 to enter thefilter 18, the mixture of oil and clay thus entering the filter will besubjected to the heat radiating from the convoute-d portion of the pipe20, at approximately 453 F which is a prerequisite for speedyfiltration. The valve 16 is not opened until after the topping operationreferred to has been completed.

A base flange 21 is provided at the bottom of the filter 18 and whichhas an annular bead or rib 22 on the underside thereof. A disc 23 ishingedly connected to the flange 21 on one side and is lockeddiametrically opposite by a bolt 24. The disc 2.3 is perforated and alayer of paper 25 or other suitable ma terial is placed thereon. A layerof fabric 26 is then placed on the layer of paper 25 and a foraminousscreen 27 is placed on top of the fabric. It is pointed out'tha-t theoil, the viscosity of which is lowered by the application of heat,filters through laminations of fabric and paper and the perforations inthe disc 23.

Filtration of oil through the laminations of fabric and paper isaugmented or speeded up by the application of air under pressure throughthe pipe 28, fragmentarily shown as entering the top of the filter 18and is connected with any type of conventional air compressor or thelike. In thusforcing the oil to filter, it is received within the bowl29, which is an integral part of the perforated disc or plate 23 andwhich is provided with an outlet at its bottom, as shown in Figure 1.

After all of the oil has been forced out of the filter 18, the bolt 24is removed so as to allow the disc 23 to swing downwardly. The layer ofpaper 25 and the layer of fabric 26, upon which the deposits of clayrepose may be ,removed and a new layer substituted for anotheroperation.

The foregoing description being definitive of both structure andfunction, it is regarded as sufficient to explain the operation of themachine. Also, the description deals with the structure shown in Figure1, which issub stantially the same as the variation or modified form ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 2 with the exception of the fact that theheat circulating or distributing pipes 30, shown in Figure 2 arevertically disposed instead of being horizontally disposed as shown inFigure 1. Moreover, the jacket 2 extends above the tank 1 and the fillernozzle 1, must of necessity extend through the upper end of the jacket2. Otherwise the structure and operation is identical.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of some modification andsuch modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of theappended claims is also considered within the spirit and intent of theinvention.

What I claim, is,

1. The hereindescribed process for reclamation of used lubricating oilswhich resides in introducing the oils, together with acidulated clay inan amount sufficient to restore the oil to its original specification,in a confined zone and heating the mixture to a temperature to drive ofithe more volatile nonlubricating oils without cracking the lubricatingoil, then in agitating the mixture solely by passing a continuous streamof air therethrough of such predetermined pressure to effect completeagitation and mixture of the oil and clay and to drive ofl said vaporsby said air stream, then as a continuous step drawing off the mixtureand filtering the same prior to substantial cooling thereof by superatmospheric air pressure.

2. The hereindescribed process for reclamation of used lubricating oilswhich resides in introducing the oils, together with acidulated clay inan amount suiiicient to restore the oil to its original specification,in a confined zone and heating the mixture to a temperature to drive oflthe more volatile nonlubricating oils Without cracking the lubri eatingoil, then in agitating the mixture solely by passing a continuous streamof air therethroughvof such predetermined pressure to efiect completeagitation and mixture of the oil and clay and to drive 0E said vapors bysaid air stream, then in drawing 03 the mixture into a separate zone andfiltering same at a temperature substantially approximating that of saidinitial temperature 0 super atmospheric gaseous pressure app 'ed to thesurface of the mixture.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand, this 22nd day of August, 1930.LEWIS J. IRELAND.

